most accurate version. However, there are inevitable differences between English and Chinese. When literal translation encounters some obstacles, people often use free translation. As Jia zhuli puts it, “Usually, translators make more use of literal translation than free translation, if possible.(贾柱立, 实用英汉翻译基础教程. 2007. 119）Free translation is to translate by ideas. Its focus is the ideas of the original text, paying less attention to the actual words and structures. I adopted the strategy “Translate literally if possible, or seek help in free translation” in my translation.
For example:
(1) IBM squeezed every penny out of every deal without regard to the impact it would have on customers.
In this sentence, Squeezed every penny out is translated as:
把每一分钱的利益都挤出来 – Literal translation
Here the literal translation can vividly express that IBM company is taking interests as the priority. This approach is faithful and is in accordance with the structure. So there is no need to turn to free translation.
(2) IBM has been here before, back in 1993 under CEO John Akers the company cratered, booking an $8 billion loss on $40 billion in sales.
In this sentence, the part – IBM has been here before can be translated to:
IBM以前也遇到过这样的危机 – Free translation
I adopted the free translation. If translated literally, it would be“IBM也曾到过这里”. As we can see, the literal translation is confusing. Through the context, we know this “here” refers to the fact that same crisis has happened to IBM before. So the free translation is more appropriate.
(3) IBM has no vision, none, nada, zip.
IBM没有眼光，丝毫也没有– Free translation
Here the words “none”, “nada” and “zip” have the same meaning as “none” and are used to emphasize that the IBM has no vision at all. If translated literally, which is, in this case, translated every word that contains the same meaning, the original flavor of the these words in this sentence can be saved, but then the translation is not natural and it does not conform to the habitual expressions in Chinese. So I used free translation that is not only proper but also smooth and lively.
3.2 Amplification
Amplification, also called addition, means supplying necessary words to the translation on the basis of an accurate comprehension of source language text and the rules of naturalness and professionalism of target language. It is for the purpose of faithful representation of the thought of the author as well as the naturalism of target text. Jia zhuli clearly states that “ In E-C translation, it is not unnatural to make proper addition to the target language to make it natural while faithful. Addition is to add words that are implied in the semantic context.”（贾柱立, 实用英汉翻译基础教程. 2007. 62）. So I tried to make proper use of this method.
(1)Amplification by supplying verbs:
No amount of earnings promises, no amount of financial engineering, will fix this problem.
现在即使提出再多的销售承诺，或者是打造再多的金融工程，都无法弥补这个失误。
Here by supplying the verbs 提出 and 打造，the target translation is more natural.
(
